An Advanced Napier Crop Management Course was conducted on 5 – 7 September 2022 at Desaru Kota Tinggi, Johor. This course was organized by the Crop Industry Development Division, Department of Agriculture Malaysia.

The main objective of this course is to improve the skills of the stakeholders in the management and handling of fodder crops which are Napier grass. The workshop was attended by 40 officials from Malaysia's Department of Agriculture.

The cost of livestock feed is frequently a concern in the development of Malaysia's livestock sector, notably ruminant animals. This issue has become one of the contributing factors to the underdevelopment of the ruminant sector in this country. Napier grass, maize stalks, palm fronds, and other natural food sources should be utilized and exploited as ruminant fodder. To ensure the continuing development of ruminant cattle, this natural food supply must be converted into silage.

Silage is a form of ruminant feed produced from agricultural waste by anaerobic (oxygen-free) fermentation with a water content of 35%-75%. The knowledge and practical training shared by Animal Research Center staff of the Sustainable Animal Production and Biodiversity Laboratory is critical in exposing Malaysian Department of Agriculture officials to the preparation and production of ruminant fodder through silage.

For more information and consultation on silage production, please contact En. Eddy Shahriza Jamein, Animal Research Center, ITAFoS.

Date of Input: 12/09/2022 | Updated: 12/09/2022 | s_hasimah